I apologize for the horrible attempt at putting two words together in the title, but this blog will just be some thoughts and observations I've had in the world of sports recently.
It's a pity that the NBA and NHL couldn't have worked out some kind of deal in regards to their playoff schedules. With the Detroit Red Wings and the Detroit Pistons each battling deep into their respective post-seasons, one figures it'd be a joyous time to be a Detroit fan. However, due to issues between the leagues (that I assume involve mainly money), the Stanley Cup Finals and the Eastern Conference Finals are not only being played on the same nights, but at the same TIMES (give or take 25 minutes). This move forces fans in Detroit to essentially pick sides, or desperately try to balance the two (I saw a few fans in the Game 4 crowd in Detroit wearing Red Wings jerseys). Even me, as a Bostonian, wishes there was some other arrangement. While my Bruins are eliminated, I find nothing more exciting than playoff hockey, especially the Cup Finals. I've found myself flipping back and forth trying to watch both games, while considering getting TiVo instead. It's a shame that this has probably ended in the NHL getting lower ratings. A casual fan would probably be more inclined to watch the NBA, as the Celtics and Lakers resurgence has been well broadcast across the media spectrum. With this being the NHL's big chance to showcase some of its best young and old talent, a dispute over dollars may have the teams playing in Kevin Garnett's shadow.
The NBA has decided to come down on "floppers", taking a page out of the NHL's book (cracking down on diving and embellishing). I'm not sure what effect this will have on the game as a whole, but I wouldn't be surprised if offensive fouls drop drastically, either because of perceived flops or because of players getting set late because of hesitation. I'd rather see the NBA promote a "Let the boys play" approach. It seems like every drive results in some ticky-tacky foul, and if no foul is called, the players look around, hands raised, mortified at what just happened. Enough with the weak fouls, and enough with the whining. These players act like children when they don't get their way, sulking down the court and glaring daggers at the referees. Grow up.
The Celtics have a chance to set up a throwback NBA finals, as a win tonight would undoubtedly bring back Celtics-Lakers memories of old. I'm a little too young to remember any kind of fierce rivalry, but my father and uncles certainly do. Hopefully the Celtics can advance, and can give the fans a generation ahead of me a Finals to look forward to.
A lot seems to have been made on this website about Jason Whitlock's piece on tattoos. I tend to agree with the multitudes here when I say I don't really think it's that accurate. Yes ratings are up, but does that have anything to do with tattoos? The ratings boost could just be because of the rivalries that have made up these conference finals, or, taking a Boston-centric view, because two of the league's more storied franchises in Boston and LA are seemingly on a collision course. Far be it for me to judge Jason Whitlock, as he is a great writer, but it seems like the took two unrelated statistics and fused them together here. I can honestly say that I've never looked at an NBA player and said "Wow, I'm changing the channel, this guy has too many tattoos". On a more logical note, during play it's not exactly easy to pick out tattoos anyways, but that's just nitpicking. There's my $0.02 on the latest buzz on FoxSports.com
So is it finally time for the real season to begin? After the first 22 games were little more than a stroll through Boston Common, the Celtics are set to embark on what is said to be the first true test section of their schedule: vs. Orlando on December 23rd, at Utah and L.A. Lakers on back to back nights (December 29th and 30th), at Detroit (January 5th), then back to back games again, this time at New Jersey and at Washington (January 11th and 12th). The Utah/LA games will serve as the end of a four game West Coast swing, which is never an easy task for any NBA team.
On ESPN earlier last week, Bill Walton said that this was the time when the Celtics would show if they were truly one of the league's elite teams (which, according to Chauncey Billups after last night's game, is true). Their early schedule was pretty much a cakewalk, with only occasional challenges from Orlando and Toronto thrown in the mix.
20-3 is quite impressive, but the Celtics still need to prove that they can run with the big boys, and last night's game against Detroit was one of those tests. Even though they lost, the Celtics proved that they are a tough team, and had many chances to win that game. Paul Pierce's ill-advised jumper sealed the deal, as he had plenty of time to up-fake, drive to the net, or even kick the ball out to someone else. There were way too many offensive rebounds for the Pistons, something that a team cannot allow when it is trying to make a comeback. Also, too many stupid fouls (no, not Tony Allen's...everyone in the building was sold on Billups' up-fake) that occurred away from the play or on loose balls. These are all things that the Celtics can build upon, and they should come away from this game angry that they let it get away, not proud that they were able to "hang in there" against Detroit.
That said, last night's game had a great atmosphere, and was a lot of fun to watch. It felt like a playoff game, something that hasn't been seen in the Garden since the Pacers blew the Celtics out of the water a few years back. Ray Allen's clutch three-pointers were incredible, as was the sharpshooting of Billups, who abused Rajon Rondo down the stretch. Basketball was fun again in Boston last night, despite the loss.
Who knows, maybe we'll see some more Celtics-Pistons games down the road, say, in June?
I'm a 20 year old kid from Dorchester, MA, who one day hopes to be a sportswriter for a big time newspaper, and figure this is a good place to start. I'm in college at Suffolk in downtown Boston now, and it's awesome. I love all sports, with the Bruins and Red Sox being my favorite teams, thought I'm also a big Patriots and Celtics fan. I think it's ridiculous how no one in this town cares about the Bruins anymore. I like college sports too, no particular teams, especially any big bowl games and March Madness. I hate fairweather fans, especially everyone who jumped on the Sox bandwagon in 2004. The "pink hats" and "OMG Varitek's so hot!!" drive me crazy, just like anyone else who's a real baseball fan. Pick a team, know the players, stay loyal and be a real fan- in good times and in bad.
